A pioneer of modern forensic anthropology reveals secrets of the world's first-and only-laboratory devoted to death.

Forensic science and murder investigations are among the most fascinating topics of our time. Dominating television and print media every season, both as fiction and nonfiction, the subject could not be hotter. As one of the world's leading forensic anthropA pioneer of modern forensic anthropology reveals secrets of the world's first-and only-laboratory devoted to death.

Forensic science and murder investigations are among the most fascinating topics of our time. Dominating television and print media every season, both as fiction and nonfiction, the subject could not be hotter. As one of the world's leading forensic anthropologists, Dr. Bill Bass is the premier guide to this unusual world.

Nowhere is there another lab like Dr. Bass's: on a hillside in Tennessee, human bodies decompose in the open air, aided by insects, bacteria, and birds, unhindered by coffins or mausoleums. At the "Body Farm," nature takes its course with corpses buried in shallow graves, submerged in water, locked in trunks of cars. As scientific stand-ins for murder victims, they serve the needs of science-and the cause of justice.

For thirty years, Dr. Bass's research has revolutionized the field of forensic science, particularly by pinpointing "time since death" in murder cases. In his riveting book, he investigates real cases and leads readers on an unprecedented journey behind the locked gates of the "Body Farm." A master scientist and engaging storyteller, Bass shares his most intriguing cases: his revisit of the Lindbergh kidnapping and murder fifty years later; the mystery of a headless corpse, whose identity astonished police; the telltale bugs that finally sent a murderous grandfather to death row-and many more....more

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published
October 27th 2003
by Putnam Adult
(first published January 1st 2003)

Community Reviews

Visiting the Body Farm in Tennessee would be my idea of a good day out. A scientific research facility which treats death as an informative transition period rather than something static and final, the Body Farm has become world famous.

As someone who has been routinely staring death in the face (or more accurately into the faces of hundreds of deceased, recent or otherwise), my desk is usually awash with texts and field manuals produced by William Bass and his colleagues. People often mistakenlyVisiting the Body Farm in Tennessee would be my idea of a good day out. A scientific research facility which treats death as an informative transition period rather than something static and final, the Body Farm has become world famous.

As someone who has been routinely staring death in the face (or more accurately into the faces of hundreds of deceased, recent or otherwise), my desk is usually awash with texts and field manuals produced by William Bass and his colleagues. People often mistakenly believe that archaeologists only deal with the driest of bones. This is not true and a number of my experiences have been remarkably similar to those of Prof Bass (bodies appearing recently buried turning out to have been in the ground for over 120 years like Colonel Shy/ body bags really not being leak proof being two examples).

Deaths Acre takes you inside the body farm, providing detailed descriptions of the advances in forensic research, as well as an insight into the inspiration and relationships which led Prof Bass on his remarkable journey from army researcher to forensics lecturer and founder of the worlds most infamous research facility.

I have to admit to reading this for the forensic case details rather than info on Bill's personal life but despite being a 'ghosted' volume (perhaps in the literal and literary sense) it was an informative and educational read. Some of the descriptions and images are not for the squeamish so if you're not in possession of an ironcast gut then maybe you should just stick to Patricia Cornwell novels. If you're feeling double tough and want further access to forensic material then Bass's field guide to human osteology should be your next port of call....more

As someone who has had a lifelong fascination with death, decomposition, murder, funerary and burial practices, and all manner of morbid stuff, I was eager to read Death's Acre. I had read a little about the Body Farm previously, so I couldn't wait to get the whole story from the man who started it all, Bill Bass.

I expected the book to focus very narrowly on the Body Farm itself, but that isn't the case. The reader does get information about Bass's background and how he got into anthropology --As someone who has had a lifelong fascination with death, decomposition, murder, funerary and burial practices, and all manner of morbid stuff, I was eager to read Death's Acre. I had read a little about the Body Farm previously, so I couldn't wait to get the whole story from the man who started it all, Bill Bass.

I expected the book to focus very narrowly on the Body Farm itself, but that isn't the case. The reader does get information about Bass's background and how he got into anthropology -- and then forensics -- in the first place. This moves into logical background about Bass's initial work with corpses and the eventual founding of the Body Farm. I thought it was interesting that the Farm got started not only as a much-needed research facility for learning about an uncharted area of science, but it also seemed to have been started because Bass was running out of place to store messy dead bodies (a broom closet at the university and even the trunk of his beloved Mustang proved to be not the best places after all!).

The book then gets into some of the difficulties the Farm has had -- protests about its location, protests about the use of unclaimed cadavers (particularly those of U.S. veterans) and some of the projects it has hosted (including an adipocere formation experiment and an experiment suggested by crime author Patricia Cornwell).

But most of what comprises this book are stories about Bass's career -- his failures and successes. The failures (most notably the Shy case) point up the need for a facility like the Body Farm, and the successes point to the value of the data gathered at the site. All the workers at the Body Farm -- living and dead -- are doing a great deal to aid forensic science. In the future, justice for murder victims will be served more swiftly and accurately because of the work done at the Body Farm.

Avid readers of true crime will enjoy the specialized "professional" view of cases that may already be familiar to them. I was familiar with the Madison Rutherford and Perry/Rubinstein cases, but getting the technical details from Bass (shaped for maximum readability by his capable co-author Jon Jefferson) gave the stories a new dimension. Especially fascinating was the description of the study Bass's student made of the effects of different types of saws upon bone, which helped lead to a conviction in the death of Leslie Mahaffey, one of the victims of the diabolical Paul Bernardo, the male half of the Canadian "Barbie and Ken" husband-and-wife murder team. There's also an inside look at the infamous Tri-State Crematory case from 2002.

There's a lot of eye-popping detail in this book, some of it horrifying, some of it poignant, some of it -- dare I say -- hilarious. See if you can keep yourself from laughing when you find out why Bass had to buy his first wife two new kitchen stoves, or why he had to buy his third wife a new blender.

Even when the tone of the book becomes humorous, Bass is always professional and respectful. Bass sees himself as a scientist, first and foremost, and his ultimate goal is to use his science to bring criminals to justice. He's humble, big-hearted, and always willing to learn from anybody -- be it a colleague, one of his own students, or the voiceless dead who speak to him with their inert, shattered bones. ...more

I picked up this book because the Body Farm fascinates me. Seriously, I'm so taken with that place that I would consider willing my future cadaver there someday if my family approves. In Death's Acre, Dr. William M. Bass, his tale written by the vastly capable Jon Jefferson, takes us on the journey of his exciting career as a forensic anthropologist, professor, and founder of the Body Farm.

There are some very graphic descriptions of human decomposition in this book, which doesn't bother me, butI picked up this book because the Body Farm fascinates me. Seriously, I'm so taken with that place that I would consider willing my future cadaver there someday if my family approves. In Death's Acre, Dr. William M. Bass, his tale written by the vastly capable Jon Jefferson, takes us on the journey of his exciting career as a forensic anthropologist, professor, and founder of the Body Farm.

There are some very graphic descriptions of human decomposition in this book, which doesn't bother me, but I know some readers may want to take that into account before reading. Bass manages to remain respectful throughout all of the tough stuff, though, from outlining the case of a murdered toddler to commenting on charred human remains. That undercurrent of respect for the decedents and the work really sets this book on a pedestal for me.

Because I'm hardly a science scholar, I was relieved to find that Bass and Jefferson explain the processes in layman's terms. At times, I felt like one of Dr. Bass's students, called to class to study another pile of bones. As the book went on, I got better and better at figuring out the rationale behind time of death estimates and cause of death explanations. No wonder the man is a legend in his field.

I would recommend this story to anyone who has the stomach for and the interest in forensic science. ...more

The writing could be tighter, but his wandering through his life is interesting. How he, an anthropologist developed into a pioneer in the field of forensics is interesting & funny, in rather horrible ways. (A corpse in the closet over the weekend - the poor janitor!) The development & reasoning behind the body farm is also interesting. See Mary Roache's book on corpses - she has a chapter on the body farm & does a wonderful job, too.

I have a keen interest in forensic science and true crime. I studied forensic anthropology for a little while in grad school (and I feel compelled to add that I did this before it was The In Thing). My interest in the subject was sparked by a book by Dr. William Maples, one of the founders of the field, called Dead Men Do Tell Tales. Dr. Bass is another of the giants in the field, although Maples’ book is more artful and creative than this one, which is somewhat formless and meandering.

I felt liI have a keen interest in forensic science and true crime. I studied forensic anthropology for a little while in grad school (and I feel compelled to add that I did this before it was The In Thing). My interest in the subject was sparked by a book by Dr. William Maples, one of the founders of the field, called Dead Men Do Tell Tales. Dr. Bass is another of the giants in the field, although Maples’ book is more artful and creative than this one, which is somewhat formless and meandering.

I felt like I’d heard some of these stories before. Given how many books in this field I’ve read, it’s entirely possible that I have, but the similarities between Bass’ career and Maples’ are sometimes striking. Bass is a friendlier narrator than Maples (at times Maples’ ego shines forth like a pair of neon green fuzzy dice hanging from a rearview mirror) but his voice wanders, and he inexplicable gives the same explanations several times in different chapters, almost as if the chapters were written as standalone articles and later compiled, resulting in some repetition of expository information.

His discussion of his work at the so-called Body Farm (actually the Anthropological Research Facility) is actually pretty minimal. Most of the book is about his other cases. I would have liked more insight about the work they’ve done at the facility. My enjoyment of the book (which I read very quickly) was probably impeded by my familiarity with the subject matter; a lot of things that would be interesting and new to a less prepared reader were old hat to me.

It’s an interesting read but at times wearying and repetitive. I’m surprised his co-author didn’t corrall the prose a bit more. Weak, Jefferson. Weak....more

I'd heard about this fellow's work from several directions before I ever picked up the book (one of my oldest friends has agreed to donate his body to this research facility), and I was frankly enamored with the idea (of the research facility, not the donation).

I was actually mildly disappointed with the scale of his facility -- I had imagined it as a huge spread, out in the wilds of southern Appalachia, with various experiments scattered in the hollows and tucked away at the end of meandering pI'd heard about this fellow's work from several directions before I ever picked up the book (one of my oldest friends has agreed to donate his body to this research facility), and I was frankly enamored with the idea (of the research facility, not the donation).

I was actually mildly disappointed with the scale of his facility -- I had imagined it as a huge spread, out in the wilds of southern Appalachia, with various experiments scattered in the hollows and tucked away at the end of meandering paths.

Sort of like a hiking area the Adamms family might enjoy.

The memoir approach also surprised me, but it worked quite well, since Bass's career certainly had drama to it.

But, still, the book didn't work as well as I expected. I blame the editors, since Bass must remain the hero in this story, but it is too bad he didn't get a better book out of this.

Wow what a book! I am so very glad that my new-ish Goodreads friend, Matt, recommended this book. Exactly what I like.

I love watching the crime/forensic shows. CSI, Criminal Minds, Bones, whatever. However, I get really grossed-out at the graphic visuals and some of the details into the creepy minds leaves me feeling ill. This book has all the good parts without the nasty.

The author started the first body farm in America and is behind (either on his own or thru graduate students he taught) a siWow what a book! I am so very glad that my new-ish Goodreads friend, Matt, recommended this book. Exactly what I like.

I love watching the crime/forensic shows. CSI, Criminal Minds, Bones, whatever. However, I get really grossed-out at the graphic visuals and some of the details into the creepy minds leaves me feeling ill. This book has all the good parts without the nasty.

The author started the first body farm in America and is behind (either on his own or thru graduate students he taught) a significant percentage of the forensic methods and tests and processes used today, in addition to much of the knowledge the experts have on how to determine things like age, sex, time since death, etc.

He starts just telling little stories of how he started in the field of forensic science. He continues telling his story as it leads up to how he got the idea and eventually started the body farm (and how a very popular Patricia Cornwall book came to be named after it). It's really a kind of series of small stories in (mostly) order, each one telling about how and when he got called to a death scene, what the particular twists were in the murder and in the state of the corpse, and what he did to determine what facts he could find. It's written in easy enough terms for the layman, but well enough that it's not just a story, it's interesting information. I kept grabbing my husband saying "did you know that..." over and over. Really fascinating.

How to determine how long a body has been dead in multiple situations. How to determine what kind of blade cut apart a body. How to tell if someone was alive or dead, tied or restrained in any way, when their body burned. How to tell if a body had been moved. How to determine time of death by bugs. Why kidnapped children don't leave fingerprints behind. How to determine how long a body had been in the water. How to tell race without a skull. Methods of telling age when teeth aren't available. The list of things determined by either Dr. Bass or by his students is huge and amazing. Reading about how it all unfolded is fascinating!...more

I would have given this book 4 out of 5 stars, but I had one minor, nit-picky complaint. The author gives us only glimpses into his personal life, his beliefs and his childhood. We know by the end of the book that his first two wives died, leaving him lonely and depressed. Then, next thing you know, he's married to someone he knew years ago. I would have liked some tales of their courtship or maybe some more information about her. He mentions at the end that he no longer believes in an afterlifeI would have given this book 4 out of 5 stars, but I had one minor, nit-picky complaint. The author gives us only glimpses into his personal life, his beliefs and his childhood. We know by the end of the book that his first two wives died, leaving him lonely and depressed. Then, next thing you know, he's married to someone he knew years ago. I would have liked some tales of their courtship or maybe some more information about her. He mentions at the end that he no longer believes in an afterlife. Throughout the book, I wondered to myself many times how he felt about what happens to us after we die and how he aligns any spiritual beliefs he may have with working day to day with the bodies of human beings and reliving the often horrendous crimes that brought those bodies to him. I am interested in how he came to his unbelief of an afterlife.

That being said, I enjoyed the book immensely. A strong stomach is definitely a prerequisite for reading a book in which you discover where maggots most like to feed on rotting flesh and how a body appears in each stage of decomposition. I actually learned a lot about how the examination and analysis of bodies helps bring murderers to justice. Seems that no matter what lengths some criminals go through in order to destroy the "evidence", a brilliant scientist like Dr. Bass and his team will eventually uncover enough evidence in order to bring a guilty verdict. I felt that after reading some of the gruesome details of the crimes, the conviction of the perpetrators was a small victory and made it worthwhile.

I found it quite interesting that one of the main identifiers of race and heritage is the shape of the skull and bones of the face, especially the mouth. A question that kept popping up in my mind was how that will certainly change (and probably already has, to some degree) with the advent of so many multicultural children changing the face (no pun intended) of our society. Lesson learned from this book: don't try to fake your own death with the body of a Mexican if you're a Caucasian. For those who have read the book, you know what I'm referring to.

If you are interested in forensics, this book is certainly worth a read. I'm looking forward the sequel. ...more

Examining one of the Bass non-fiction books, the reader will discover that the world of forensic anthropology and crime scene analysis is nothing like that depicted on television, or in most crime novels. Bass seeks not only to delve into the real-world exploration of what he has been doing for the past 25 (at the time) years or so, but also to shed some light on techniques, variations, and the creation of the Body Farm, for which he has become known since its creation in 1980. Adding some persoExamining one of the Bass non-fiction books, the reader will discover that the world of forensic anthropology and crime scene analysis is nothing like that depicted on television, or in most crime novels. Bass seeks not only to delve into the real-world exploration of what he has been doing for the past 25 (at the time) years or so, but also to shed some light on techniques, variations, and the creation of the Body Farm, for which he has become known since its creation in 1980. Adding some personal stories to many of his professional (read: work) ones, Bass, enthrals the reader with true crime solving and anecdotal tales that shed a more thorough light on forensics in general and forensic anthropology in particular. It is much more than BONES or CSI could offer, and far more interesting, especially for the reader who has enjoyed Bass' complete series of fiction novels.

I come into this reading experience, having devoured the entire fiction series (to date) and being a major fan. As he does in his works of fiction, Bass injects a pile of humour and a ton of teachable moments to show the reader what it is that is going on and putting it in a larger context for the layman. Additionally, many of the story lines of the fiction series are taken from Bass' experiences and people with whom he has worked. (As an aside, many of Bass' former students have gone on to have careers with 'world's foremost expert' attached to their titles). I found this highly entertaining and thoroughly captivating. While I am sure there is a research component to writing his fiction books, much can also be called life lesson and experience.

I highly enjoyable book, fitting right in with the fiction collection. Fans of Bass' work will surely love this and fans of BONES, CSI, and even Patricia Cornwell (fan and friend of Dr. Bass) will also raise eyebrows and utter many a 'hmm'.

Kudos Messers. Bass for this wonderful journey into the world of forensic anthropology. I cannot wait to read the other non-fiction book you two have penned. ...more

Recommends it for: Anyone in the medical field or interested in crime stories

I was sad when I read the last sentence of this book; I did not want it to end. When I started reading this book I wanted to read about dead bodies and the story behind the bodies, the cause of death and if it was a murder victim then the story of how the person was killed. The first chapter did start out talking about a body but it also started talking about the life of Bill Bass, the founder of the Body Farm, which I wasn’t interested in but I had to remind myself that this book is a memoir ofI was sad when I read the last sentence of this book; I did not want it to end. When I started reading this book I wanted to read about dead bodies and the story behind the bodies, the cause of death and if it was a murder victim then the story of how the person was killed. The first chapter did start out talking about a body but it also started talking about the life of Bill Bass, the founder of the Body Farm, which I wasn’t interested in but I had to remind myself that this book is a memoir of how the Body Farm became what it is today. To get the story of the Body Farm the life story of Bill Bass is also told. Each chapter tells about a body and the back story of the body. This book can best be described as a true, real life CSI series. Not only does each chapter talk about the bodies but also the evidence and events that lead examiners to determine the cause of death of the people. This book has a lot of scientific talk about human anatomy but the book is broken down and explained and terms are used that can be understood by anyone who is not familiar with technical human anatomy terms....more

I was very much looking forward to reading this book, as I’m fascinated with bodies and science of how they decay. I’m also an anthropologist - cultural one, but still fascinated with anything anthropological. This book is excellent and I was in love with it the moment I’ve started reading it. History of dr Bass and his creation of Body Farm is like a really great adventure for me. I give it 4 stars only because I wasn’t exactly happy with the fact, that he was repeating himself quite often, almI was very much looking forward to reading this book, as I’m fascinated with bodies and science of how they decay. I’m also an anthropologist - cultural one, but still fascinated with anything anthropological. This book is excellent and I was in love with it the moment I’ve started reading it. History of dr Bass and his creation of Body Farm is like a really great adventure for me. I give it 4 stars only because I wasn’t exactly happy with the fact, that he was repeating himself quite often, almost as if this book was writing for people who read one chapter in a big while. Now I’ve started continuation of the book - Beyond the Body Farm: A Legendary Bone Detective Explores Murders, Mysteries, and the Revolution in Forensic Science and again - I’m charmed :) ...more

A fascinating read with far more humour and heart than I expected. My own interest in forensics is purely born from watching CSI. Found it intriguing to read about how and where some of the knowledge in the field was developed.

Majority of the book is about Bass' career as a physical anthropologist, with a concentration on his work in crime cases and small bits about his personal life. Bass is also generous in devoting time to the achievements of his students and colleagues in the field. Liked tA fascinating read with far more humour and heart than I expected. My own interest in forensics is purely born from watching CSI. Found it intriguing to read about how and where some of the knowledge in the field was developed.

Majority of the book is about Bass' career as a physical anthropologist, with a concentration on his work in crime cases and small bits about his personal life. Bass is also generous in devoting time to the achievements of his students and colleagues in the field. Liked that he was open about mistakes he made along the way, and what was learned from them.

I'm not sure how the writing of this book was carried out, but I can't help wishing his co-author or editor had tightened it up a bit more. The repetition and side-tracking were at times annoying. However, I'm glad that his avuncular, didactic tone carried through...along with his often groan-worthy jokes. ...more

By far the most interesting, informative book I have! I loved it, I wish I didn't have to put it down as much as I did. I was so content with this read I had to research into other books and I found a TV series about the body farm and stayed up all night watching six episodes. Going to order some more books on the body farm, this particular book was so easy to read, it was all explained and no heavy use of jargon.

Death's Acre is primarily a series of interesting stories about solving crimes through forensic science. Jon Jefferson has assisted Dr. Bass in writing a really engaging memoir. This book could have been just a series a CSI type stories, but it is more than that. I found Dr. Bass's discussion of his loss of religious faith particularly interesting. He practiced a conventional Christian faith for over 60 years. His direct experience with horrific murders did not shake it, but the cancer deaths ofDeath's Acre is primarily a series of interesting stories about solving crimes through forensic science. Jon Jefferson has assisted Dr. Bass in writing a really engaging memoir. This book could have been just a series a CSI type stories, but it is more than that. I found Dr. Bass's discussion of his loss of religious faith particularly interesting. He practiced a conventional Christian faith for over 60 years. His direct experience with horrific murders did not shake it, but the cancer deaths of two women he loved did. It would have been easy to leave this out of the book, but including it gives us insight into the life of a real man who is more than a successful teacher, researcher and mystery solver....more

This book was incredible! Bill Bass gives an easy to read background to forensic anthropology. This is definitely a must read if you like to watch crime drama television such as Bones or have an interest in anthropology. Surprisingly, this book wasn't dry, which I kind of hoped it would be! However, Bass included little pieces of his humor which had me laughing out loud while I was reading it. Death's Acre was the type of book that I didn't want to put down. Bass also includes a section with picThis book was incredible! Bill Bass gives an easy to read background to forensic anthropology. This is definitely a must read if you like to watch crime drama television such as Bones or have an interest in anthropology. Surprisingly, this book wasn't dry, which I kind of hoped it would be! However, Bass included little pieces of his humor which had me laughing out loud while I was reading it. Death's Acre was the type of book that I didn't want to put down. Bass also includes a section with pictures that relate to his cases as well as his personal life within the book. These pictures along with lucid descriptions bring the book to life in the audience's hands....more

I really enjoyed learning about the Body Farm and how it came to be. I have read Patricia Cornwell's book The Body Farm and so learning the lengths she went to for her research for a death scene in the book was great and encouraging to hear that she really cared if her books are realistic. Also learning where the techniques that are taken for granted today came from, who thought them up, and the experiments done to create these techniques. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in theI really enjoyed learning about the Body Farm and how it came to be. I have read Patricia Cornwell's book The Body Farm and so learning the lengths she went to for her research for a death scene in the book was great and encouraging to hear that she really cared if her books are realistic. Also learning where the techniques that are taken for granted today came from, who thought them up, and the experiments done to create these techniques. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the behind the scenes, real life aspect of shows like CSI and Criminal Minds.

Thoughts on chapter 1: The Bones of the Eaglet1. This guy is very funny.2. I want to read more about Charles Lindbergh.3. I am totally interested in what this guy has to say.4. Let me tell my husband all of the things I'm learning.5. I read a book called Working Stiff by Judy Melinek about her becoming a medical examiner. Her dad committed suicide. In Death's Acre, Bill's dad committed suicide. Is there maybe a link to their future careers? Wanting to find answers? Thoughts on chapter 2: Dead InThoughts on chapter 1: The Bones of the Eaglet1. This guy is very funny.2. I want to read more about Charles Lindbergh.3. I am totally interested in what this guy has to say.4. Let me tell my husband all of the things I'm learning.5. I read a book called Working Stiff by Judy Melinek about her becoming a medical examiner. Her dad committed suicide. In Death's Acre, Bill's dad committed suicide. Is there maybe a link to their future careers? Wanting to find answers? Thoughts on chapter 2: Dead Indians and Dam Engineers1. I looked up all of the Native American tribes and places he mentioned to get the correct pronunciation.2. It's taking me forever to read this book because I keep looking things up to learn more.3. I learned a lot about prairie rattlesnakes, South Dakota soil and climate, 4. Sex on the army cots. Bahaha5. Scalping. Reading about it gives me chills every time. Thoughts on chapter 3: Bare Bones: Forensics 1011. The bones of the three month old who was abused and killed. I could barely read that without crying. 2. Had to stop to look up pelvis bone pictures and Negroid, Caucasoid, and Mongoloid skull comparisons. 3. Simmering bones in his own kitchen. So gross but so good. And then ruining his wife's stove. Haha. 4. Him describing the cavity ridden teeth of Mary's skull made my mouth hurt.Thoughts on chapter 4: The Unsavory Uncle1. Now I want to read In Cold Blood and watch the Capote movie (may Philip Seymour Hoffman rest.) 2. Lisa's uncle was found not guilty? That's just depressing.Thoughts on chapter 5: The Case of the Headless Corpse1. Interesting tidbit about smokers who leave butts at the crime scene and how they can get DNA off of them.2. THEY MISTOOK A CIVIL WAR BODY FOR A RECENT MURDER VICTIM!?!? Insane story. So insane.3. But why was the grave broken into in the first place and by whom!?!? Was something taken from the casket?Thoughts on chapter 6: The Scene of the Crime1. I never really thought about what a fire leaves behind and how that can be used to decipher where certain things were in the house.Thoughts on chapter 7: Death's Acre: The Body Farm Is Born1. The last sentence of the chapter gave me a chill. "The body farm was born."Thoughts on chapter 8: A Bug for Research1. I've got to find Bill's article, "Insect Activity and Its Relationship to Decay Rates of Human Cadavers in East Tennessee." I looked everywhere. I can't find it anywhere for free. Thoughts on chapter 9: Progress and Power1. The fingerprint thing was neat to learn. That you can still get a print from a rotting body.2. Had to look up dead body pictures which led me to wanting to look up the body farm bodies and then seeing all of the fiction Bill Bass wrote and now I have to read them and also read Patricia Cornwell's book and watch the show Body Farm. It's a deep hole I'm digging for myself. Pun intended. 3. They don't give tours but I really want to see this place. 4. I also found that other colleges and countries have added their own body farms.5. I think it's fascinating that with the help of the body farm he is able to show his students real world examples in his lectures.6. I learned something new with the whole denture labeling thing. Such a simple idea yet so helpful. Thoughts on chapter 10: Fat Sam and Cadillac Joe1. This Cadillac Joe story is so crazy that is sounds like a fictional story. Nuts!2. Side note: there's an appendix, glossary, and index at the end of this book!!!Thoughts on chapter 11: Grounded In Science1. Batman is a forensic scientist!? Bruce Wayne went as the forensic team. I crack myself up, obviously.2. Typo in the book: "but an simple analogy"3. Arpad Vass is the stuff. 4. Interesting fact about Caucasoid knee and Negroid knee.Thoughts on chapter 12: The Zoo Man Murders1. The description of maggots is pretty stomach turning.2. Looked up hyoid bone. Felt my neck and tried to find hyoid bone. Showed my husband where his hyoid bone is. 3. I love the uses of alcohol and Downy fabric softener to get fingerprints from the dead. "I'm sure the makers of Downy would be pleased to know that their product makes even mummified human skin soft and fragrant." Haha.4. I looked up to see if Husky was ever convicted of murder. It says he wasn't. WHAT THE HECK?!Thoughts on chapter 13: Parts Unknown1. Looked up the book Bones by Doug Ubelaker for a possible future read. We have this book at the library I work at. Score!2. I never thought I would say this: I want to read a textbook. Bill Bass's Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual.3. Bill Bass on how Steve Symes was reading his textbook, "Clearly he was an exceptionally bright young man. Quite possibly a genius." Haha4. Steve's research with saw's is so amazing to me. Thoughts on chapter 14: Art Imitates Death1. Now I doubly want to read Patricia Cornwell's books.Thoughts on chapter 15: More Progress, More Protest1. Looked up adipocere. 2. It makes me angry when people try to fight a good thing because they don't understand the cause. If they would have shut down the Body Farm and one of their loved ones was murdered they would want a team to find the killer and understand what happened. The Body Farm is for the greater good. Thoughts on chapter 16: The Backyard Barbecue 1. I am saddened about the state of Bill's rejection of God. 2. Looked up pictures of epiphyses, acetabulum, trochanter, and condyles. Thoughts on chapter 17: The Not-So-Accidental Tourist1. Looked up the word stymied. Saw that its first meaning was a golf term. Filed this under "must use in front of my mother-in-law who is an avid golfer to impress her."2. It saddens me to think of the unclaimed bodies. Everyone deserves someone. The silver lining is that they are helping advance science and helping to solve crimes by being sent to the Body Farm.3. Looked up Fila dogs. 4. I learned that the medical symbol thing is called a caduceus. 5. Look up what occlusal wear looks like.Thoughts on chapter 18: The Bloody Beneficiary 1. Looked up pupa to see what they look like.2. Looked up D-MORT to see exactly what they do. 3. Looked up pictures of modern crematories and Tri-State crematory. Then I had to Wikipedia Tri-State. 4. Wouldn't there be a lot of scavenger animals on the property too? 5. What the heck is up with this Marsh guy? He had no real reason not to cremate the bodies. Thoughts on Chapter 19: And When I Die1. Basically a pointless chapter except to wrap up the book. ...more

Starting watching the TV series Bones, which made me want to get this book out again. I've already read it before, but it's interesting to read how science can and can't solve murders. And for reasons I can't understand, I'm absolutely fascinated by forensics, although I don't think I could stomach the realities of the job if I tried...

This book is excellent for those with little scientific background. Everything technical is explained clearly in non-scientific terms.

This is one of the most fascinating nonfiction books I've ever read. It's going to be hard to not write an entire book about how much I enjoyed it, but I'll give it a shot. If you've ever wondered what really happens to the human body after life has departed, this book will answer it so well you'll almost be an expert in forensic anthropology when you're done. Hollywood always gets it wrong. It's shocking how quickly a corpse dissolves out in the open, at least in areas where it gets reasonablyThis is one of the most fascinating nonfiction books I've ever read. It's going to be hard to not write an entire book about how much I enjoyed it, but I'll give it a shot. If you've ever wondered what really happens to the human body after life has departed, this book will answer it so well you'll almost be an expert in forensic anthropology when you're done. Hollywood always gets it wrong. It's shocking how quickly a corpse dissolves out in the open, at least in areas where it gets reasonably hot with a certain degree of humidity in the air. Faces are dissolved quickly, maggots are everywhere. The TV cop shows can't even begin to cover it. More likely than not, if the body isn't fresh the ME will not be able to do an autopsy. That's where Dr. Bass and his crew come in, and as brutal as they can be in their methods, it's always with respect and with the advancement of science in mind. Apparently, it's common practice to cut the hands off of a corpse for identification later. If the decomposition is bad enough, the scientist will actually deglove the hand and stick his own hand in there to get good fingerprints. I don't think I ever saw anything THAT gruesome on CSI.

Horrifying images aside, Dr. Bass is a very interesting person, not just because he's the brilliant mind behind the Body Farm, but because of his real talent: finding other geniuses and cultivating them until they're experts in their own field, sometimes to the point where they'll teach HIM things. He's got a certain degree of charm, even when making morbid jokes while surrounded by death. It's very easy to see him inspiring his students into becoming great scientists, themselves.

Not only that, but Dr. Bass really is a true scientist. He's upfront with some of the mistakes he's made in his career. Really embarrassing things, like misjudging a skeleton's time of death by 113 years. Yet he takes these mistakes and learns from them. These usually take him to some of his greatest discoveries.

If there's one complaint I have about the book, it's that the title is misleading. One would think this is the story of the Body Farm, but it's really Dr. Bass's autobiography. But to be fair, I don't know how anyone would be able to write a book of the same length about decomposition and not make it be a textbook.

If you're into science and rotting corpses, this is the book for you.

(Also, this book has convinced me that a zombie apocalypse is impossible. If by some crazy accident a zombie apocalypse DID happen, it wouldn't last more than a couple of weeks. Tops. Read the book and find out why I say this.)...more

“Death’s Acre” is not what it claims to be: “Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales.”It’s Bill Bass’s bloated memoir, brimming with useless information, bogging down readers and serving no purpose.It’s also Bill Bass’s chance to stand up and accuse men and women, not convicted in a court of law, of being murderers. More on that later.Bass writes about all sorts of things, including a few of his cases and cases of his colleagues. He writes a little about the“Death’s Acre” is not what it claims to be: “Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales.”It’s Bill Bass’s bloated memoir, brimming with useless information, bogging down readers and serving no purpose.It’s also Bill Bass’s chance to stand up and accuse men and women, not convicted in a court of law, of being murderers. More on that later.Bass writes about all sorts of things, including a few of his cases and cases of his colleagues. He writes a little about the “body farm” and its genesis, but, not that much. He complains about journalists, the scoundrels, and then bemoans when newspapers (written by journalists) didn’t cover a murder, disappearance or found body he deemed newsworthy. A little bit of cake-and-eat-it-too going on.As much as Bass might bemoan journalists, he could have done with a journalistic editor. He jumps around, across, over, under and through time without much, if any, concrete groundings, concrete dates, concrete years to orient the reader. There is no timeline and the memoir is not ordered chronologically.Result: Confusing and bloated. Too much useless fluff opinion. Bass tries to be a philosopher, to make great, profound points at the end of his chapters. Really, life is short and brutish and no amount of sugared words will mask that fact.

Guilty until proven innocentAs a journalist, on the cops and courts beat, I deal with this topic on a (literally) daily basis. I err on the side of writing about all the felony arrests in my county. I also try to make sure to write about the end of the case: a guilty plea, a dismissal, a not-guilty verdict, etc.Bill Bass feels no need to throw allegedlys into his writing. Or, really, any indication that the people whom he believes to be guilty aren’t. They’re guilty, come hell or high water! And as a forensic pathologist, often writing about cases he was not even a part of, he knows best. Trust Bill, when he says someone is a murderer. It doesn’t ruin lives or reputations or anything.Take the case of the murdered 18-year-old Lisa Ranker. Bass’ protégé, Bill Rodriguez, was working on the case and detectives thought they had their suspect based on circumstantial evidence, hearsay and a polygraph test. The District Attorney didn’t want to prosecute.That’s not good enough for Bill Bass. Boyfriend Bernie Woody and Woody’s friend Danny Heath are guilty. And that’s just a fact.“With no cause of death and nothing but circumstantial evidence to suggest that Lisa might have been murdered, though, the district attorney decided not to file criminal charges against either Bernie Woody or Danny Heath.”Bass is on a first-name basis with “Danny,” whom he has accused of murdering or helping to murder Ranker. I mention his casual use of Heath’s last name because it marks a lack of respect and civility, especially for a man one openly and profusely accuses of murder in a mainstream publication.So, Rodriguez (referred to, very poorly in style terms in this book, as Bill, despite the author’s own first name) finds Ranker’s bones show evidence of stab wounds. Her death gets re-classified as a homicide.

“Sadly, Lisa’s killer remains at large. Despite the skeletal proof Bill (Rodriguez) found showing that Lisa has been murdered, and despite the linger questions surrounding Bernie Woody and Danny Heath, the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney remains unwilling to prosecute the case.”

“Anthropologists and insects can reveal the truth about a crime, but they can’t force the wheels of bureaucracy to turn, they can’t guarantee that justice will be done. All they can do is serve as a voice for the victims, and hope that voice is heard.”’

Let’s be clear. A district attorney refusing to charge and attempt to prosecute a murder case for which he has no evidence is not a wheels of bureaucracy issue. It’s a: preventing other victims, falsely accused by anthropologists who are only out for blood, from being turned into victims issue.(That quote was also one of Bass’s faux-philosophical chapter endings.)And really, he’s giving voice to the dead victims, I guess, in hopes of making new, living ones. Kudos, Dr. Bill Bass. Kudos. Grade A life-ruining right there. Even as a journalist, I couldn’t have done a better job myself. And I’m accused of doing such on a monthly basis.

ConclusionMildly entertaining and bloated as the bodies he inspected, Bill Bass makes allegations of murder against unconvicted men and otherwise wastes time in this mislabeled memoir....more

Fascinating and sometimes morbidly unsettling. A little-known research facility that has greatly advanced the science of investigating death, homicidal or otherwise. A useful reference for anyone writing police procedural fiction, and very interesting in its own right. But be prepared, some of the content is explicit and grisly, though not voyeuristic or exploitative.

This was a really interesting book. Sad, funny, fascinating and often gross, it is the sort of book that you want to talk to people about, but have second thoughts about whether it is a good idea to bring it up. Definitely glad it wasn't scratch and sniff. Not really appropriate for dinner table conversation, unless of course you happen to be dining with me.

I learned about the Body Farm some years back while researching options for donating my body after death. Dr. Bass is a forensic anthropologist and he started the first research facility into the processes that bodies go through after death in many environments—exposed in the woods, locked in car trunks or basements, under water, etc. Dr. Bass’ work has served all of us by greatly improving the knowledge base needed to solve murders. His combination of a warm caring personality and a passion forI learned about the Body Farm some years back while researching options for donating my body after death. Dr. Bass is a forensic anthropologist and he started the first research facility into the processes that bodies go through after death in many environments—exposed in the woods, locked in car trunks or basements, under water, etc. Dr. Bass’ work has served all of us by greatly improving the knowledge base needed to solve murders. His combination of a warm caring personality and a passion for science and puzzle-solving leaps off the pages of this book. You can’t help but like Dr. Bass, which helps because some of this book is quite graphic in its description of decomposition. I have a strong stomach and I found it difficult to read at times, although those used to CSI programs or modern mysteries may not have any trouble. ...more

The story of the body farm itself and the cases was interesting and fascinating. However I could have done with a lot less of the history of his marriages. The last one - seriously 'Sad why don't you marry ...' was kinda weird.

But again - the history of this field and the development was great. But wives drop it to 3 stars

Some very interesting information from an innovator of forensic pathology, but a little too much about the man, jovial brilliant person though he clearly is, to make this book what I was expecting. I feel I have learned plenty of (hopefully useless to me!) essential grisly dead body facts, so not bad at all.

As a 26 yr old phlebotomist and mother of 2, I still haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up. I always thought, the medical field of course. I'm good at it, I'm good with patients, and I can hit a vein faster than you can blink, but still I just didn't know. When I decided to think about taking a different career path, I wanted something, anything, to give me some insight on what would interest me. so I though anthropology? forenMost informative and interesting book I have read to date.

As a 26 yr old phlebotomist and mother of 2, I still haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up. I always thought, the medical field of course. I'm good at it, I'm good with patients, and I can hit a vein faster than you can blink, but still I just didn't know. When I decided to think about taking a different career path, I wanted something, anything, to give me some insight on what would interest me. so I though anthropology? forensics? I just wasn't sure, and honestly CSI- Miami just didn't really seem.... Well you know. My point is I was looking for actual accounts, something to interest me, and make me say, yes this is it. And I found that with this book. It was amazing, it was everything I wanted and needed. I absolutely can NOT wait to read the next book, and I will read anything with the name Bill Bass on it from now on....more

This had the easy writing style of the Body Farm series. I found it fascinating to see where some of the real world experiences came for the creation of the fictional books. An interesting easy read, that sometimes you forget it is not just another story.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I love anthropology and Bass's cases are very interesting to read about. His writing and language is not hard to understand and, even though it is non fiction, it keeps you interested and is a fun read!

William M. Bass, often credited as Bill Bass, is a U.S. forensic anthropologist, renowned for his research on human osteology and human decomposition. He has also assisted federal, local, and non-US authorities in the identification of human remains. He taught at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and though currently retirCo Authors withJon Jeffersonhttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

William M. Bass, often credited as Bill Bass, is a U.S. forensic anthropologist, renowned for his research on human osteology and human decomposition. He has also assisted federal, local, and non-US authorities in the identification of human remains. He taught at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and though currently retired from teaching, still plays an active research role at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, which he founded. The Facility is more popularly known as the "Body Farm", a name used by crime author Patricia Cornwell in a novel of the same name, which drew inspiration from Dr. Bass and his work. Bass has also described the Body Farm in "Death's Acre" and "Beyond The Body Farm" – the titles of the bestselling books on his life and career, co-written with journalist Jon Jefferson. Bass and Jefferson have also written four fictional works, "Carved in Bone", "Flesh and Bone", "The Devil's Bones" and "Bones of Betrayal" under the pen name "Jefferson Bass."...more